Middle Class Affordability Rankings™ - State of Iowa

Most Affordable Colleges for Iowa Residents for 2026

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Which colleges are most affordable for Iowa residents ? The answer may surprise you.
These rankings of the most affordable colleges for Iowa residents are based on the estimated net price for a "typical" middle class family living in the state of Iowa.
Note: Net price is the actual cost of the school paid by the student and family, after factoring in merit and grant aid from the college federal programs and work study.The net prices displayed in these rankings are College Raptor's estimates.

“Typical” middle class family values used in the Net Price estimates on this page are:

Number of people in family: 4
Number of students in college: 1
Total income: $80,000
Total assets: $50,000

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Iowa

Rank	Institution	Typical Net Price	Sticker Price	% Savings	Undergraduates	Est. Median SAT	Acceptance Rate	Save
1	Grinnell College	7700	90800	0.9153	1,788	1462	0.1451	#1 #1 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Typical Net Price $7,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $90,800 % Savings 92% Undergraduates 1,788 Est. Median SAT 1,462 Acceptance Rate 14.5 %
2	Emmaus Bible College	12400	31900	0.6128	197	1103	0.977	#2 #2 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA Typical Net Price $12,400 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $31,900 % Savings 61% Undergraduates 197 Est. Median SAT 1,103 Acceptance Rate 97.7 %
3	Coe College	15700	73500	0.787	1,195	1207	0.6404	#3 #3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Typical Net Price $15,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $73,500 % Savings 79% Undergraduates 1,195 Est. Median SAT 1,207 Acceptance Rate 64.0 %
3	Graceland University-Lamoni	15700	46400	0.6621	802	1030	0.8083	#3 #3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA Typical Net Price $15,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $46,400 % Savings 66% Undergraduates 802 Est. Median SAT 1,030 Acceptance Rate 80.8 %
5	Buena Vista University	16100	59100	0.7282	801	1124	0.7761	#5 #5 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Typical Net Price $16,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $59,100 % Savings 73% Undergraduates 801 Est. Median SAT 1,124 Acceptance Rate 77.6 %
6	Cornell College	16900	71000	0.7617	1,037	1243	0.8066	#6 #6 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Typical Net Price $16,900 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $71,000 % Savings 76% Undergraduates 1,037 Est. Median SAT 1,243 Acceptance Rate 80.7 %
7	Loras College	17500	56900	0.6928	1,169	1110	0.1854	#7 #7 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Loras College Dubuque, IA Typical Net Price $17,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $56,900 % Savings 69% Undergraduates 1,169 Est. Median SAT 1,110 Acceptance Rate 18.5 %
8	Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary	18100	33400	0.4586	518	1125	0.4968	#8 #8 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA Typical Net Price $18,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $33,400 % Savings 46% Undergraduates 518 Est. Median SAT 1,125 Acceptance Rate 49.7 %
9	Wartburg College	19100	45100	0.5762	1,454	1105	0.9941	#9 #9 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Wartburg College Waverly, IA Typical Net Price $19,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $45,100 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 1,454 Est. Median SAT 1,105 Acceptance Rate 99.4 %
10	Simpson College	19200	59400	0.677	1,140	1430	0.8888	#10 #10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Simpson College Indianola, IA Typical Net Price $19,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $59,400 % Savings 68% Undergraduates 1,140 Est. Median SAT 1,430 Acceptance Rate 88.9 %
10	University of Northern Iowa	19200	24000	0.2011	7,715	1115	0.8713	#10 #10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Typical Net Price $19,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $24,000 % Savings 20% Undergraduates 7,715 Est. Median SAT 1,115 Acceptance Rate 87.1 %
10	William Penn University	19200	46000	0.5828	1,348	1000	0.5188	#10 #10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Typical Net Price $19,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $46,000 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 1,348 Est. Median SAT 1,000 Acceptance Rate 51.9 %
13	Iowa State University	19300	24200	0.2016	25,261	1207	0.8866	#13 #13 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Iowa State University Ames, IA Typical Net Price $19,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $24,200 % Savings 20% Undergraduates 25,261 Est. Median SAT 1,207 Acceptance Rate 88.7 %
14	Central College	20100	36500	0.4492	1,081	1140	0.8617	#14 #14 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Central College Pella, IA Typical Net Price $20,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $36,500 % Savings 45% Undergraduates 1,081 Est. Median SAT 1,140 Acceptance Rate 86.2 %
15	University of Dubuque	21300	61100	0.6522	1,417	1074	0.8863	#15 #15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Typical Net Price $21,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $61,100 % Savings 65% Undergraduates 1,417 Est. Median SAT 1,074 Acceptance Rate 88.6 %
16	Saint Ambrose University	21500	54600	0.606	1,937	1085	0.7733	#16 #16 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Typical Net Price $21,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $54,600 % Savings 61% Undergraduates 1,937 Est. Median SAT 1,085 Acceptance Rate 77.3 %
17	Grand View University	22000	49900	0.5595	1,483	1035	0.9843	#17 #17 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Grand View University Des Moines, IA Typical Net Price $22,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $49,900 % Savings 56% Undergraduates 1,483 Est. Median SAT 1,035 Acceptance Rate 98.4 %
18	Upper Iowa University	22200	41700	0.4681	2,504	1045	0.9338	#18 #18 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Typical Net Price $22,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $41,700 % Savings 47% Undergraduates 2,504 Est. Median SAT 1,045 Acceptance Rate 93.4 %
19	Luther College	22300	70900	0.6849	1,341	1226	0.8402	#19 #19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Luther College Decorah, IA Typical Net Price $22,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $70,900 % Savings 68% Undergraduates 1,341 Est. Median SAT 1,226 Acceptance Rate 84.0 %
20	Maharishi International University	22600	28800	0.2134	777	1089	0.969	#20 #20 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA Typical Net Price $22,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $28,800 % Savings 21% Undergraduates 777 Est. Median SAT 1,089 Acceptance Rate 96.9 %
21	Briar Cliff University	23400	55800	0.5802	737	1075	0.5983	#21 #21 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Typical Net Price $23,400 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $55,800 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 737 Est. Median SAT 1,075 Acceptance Rate 59.8 %
22	Morningside University	23600	55000	0.5701	1,177	1125	0.7057	#22 #22 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Morningside University Sioux City, IA Typical Net Price $23,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $55,000 % Savings 57% Undergraduates 1,177 Est. Median SAT 1,125 Acceptance Rate 70.6 %
23	Clarke University	24100	54600	0.5584	871	1060	0.6816	#23 #23 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Clarke University Dubuque, IA Typical Net Price $24,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $54,600 % Savings 56% Undergraduates 871 Est. Median SAT 1,060 Acceptance Rate 68.2 %
23	Northwestern College	24100	53500	0.5488	1,187	1125	0.8035	#23 #23 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Northwestern College Orange City, IA Typical Net Price $24,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $53,500 % Savings 55% Undergraduates 1,187 Est. Median SAT 1,125 Acceptance Rate 80.4 %
25	Dordt University	24900	51400	0.5165	1,695	1195	0.7116	#25 #25 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Typical Net Price $24,900 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $51,400 % Savings 52% Undergraduates 1,695 Est. Median SAT 1,195 Acceptance Rate 71.2 %
26	University of Iowa	28300	31100	0.091	22,473	1208	0.8362	#26 #26 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Typical Net Price $28,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $31,100 % Savings 9% Undergraduates 22,473 Est. Median SAT 1,208 Acceptance Rate 83.6 %
27	Drake University	28700	68500	0.5811	2,585	1226	0.6385	#27 #27 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Drake University Des Moines, IA Typical Net Price $28,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $68,500 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 2,585 Est. Median SAT 1,226 Acceptance Rate 63.9 %
28	Mount Mercy University	30900	61200	0.4957	1,185	1075	0.7876	#28 #28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Typical Net Price $30,900 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $61,200 % Savings 50% Undergraduates 1,185 Est. Median SAT 1,075 Acceptance Rate 78.8 %